Apparatus for loading cotton-bales



(No Model.)

G. THOMPSON. APPARATUS FOR LOADING COTTON BALBS, dac.

Patented Deo. 24, 1895 Il l l Lavwoz 2y MM@ ANDREW BAGRANAM.FHOTD-UTHUWSHINGTON 0.0

UNITED STATES PATENT. mon.

GEORGE THOMPSON, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING COTTON-BALES, 85C.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 552,014, dated December24, 189.5. Application nea mamy 14,1895. semina. 538,382. (remodel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for LoadingOotton-Bales, dac.; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and eXact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for loading on trucks cotton-bales asthey are delivered from the compress.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts herein after fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view ofan apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the cylinder, and Fig. 3 a similar viewof the valve.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the upperplaten of a cotton-compress, 2 the lower platen, and 3 a platform infront of the same. Located above said platform are two beams 4:, towhich is journaled a grooved sheave or pulley 5, and at the rear ends ofsaid beams is located a steam, compressed air or other cylinder 6,provided with an inlet-pipe 7 and an eXhaustpipe 8. These pipes areconnected with a valve-box 9, provided with a valve 9iL of any ordinaryor suitable construction. This valve-box is provided with a steam-pipe10, provided with a stopcock 12. The numeral 19 designates a pistonrodconnected with a piston 19, located in the cylinder, which rod isprovided with a crosshead 20, with which is connected a chain 21,passing over the sheave or pulley 5. The free end of this chain isprovided with a pair of grapnels 23, adapted to engage with acottonbale.

Secured toone of the beams 4 are two upwardly-proj ecting brackets 24,through which passes a slidable trip-rod 25,provided with two adjustablecollars 26 26a, and near the outer or front end with two lugs 27 27 n.The said triprod also passes between the bent upper ends of a trip-lever28 pivoted to one of the beams 4 and provided with two lateral arms 29.Also pivoted to said beam below the trip-lever is a valve-operatinglever comprising four arms 30 30u 31 3P. IVith the arms 31 31 areadapted to engage studs or pins 29, secured to the arms 29. The arms 30v30CL are connected by means of rods 32 with a lever 34:, secured to thestem of the steam-valve.

Embracing the chain 21 is a short sleeve or cylinder 35, through whichsaid chain freely works, and to this cylinder is pivoted a lever 36provided at'each end with handles 37 and is connected by chains 38 withthe arms 3l and 31% The numeral 17 designates au outlet-pi pe to thevalve-box.

The operation is as follows: After the cotton-bale has been dragged ontothe platform 3 from the compress, the grapnels are engaged therewith. Bynow pulling upon one of the handles 37 the arms 30 30? are turned ontheir pivot, and through the medium of the rods 32 and the lever 34 thevalve is operated toadmit steam to the front of the cylinder. This willcause the piston and piston-rod to be forced backward, carrying withthem the chain 2l, which will elevate the bale so as to bring it inposition to be loaded on a truck. The crosshead of the vpiston-rod willnow strike collar 26, forcing rod 25 backward, and the lug 27a engagingthe trip-lever 28 will actuate the arms 29, and one of the pins 29nstriking arm 31 will reverse the steam-valve, cutting off thesteam-supply and Opening the exhaust. The bale will then fall onto thetruck, and the cross-head striking lug 262L will force bar 25 outward.The lug 2 1 will then strike arm 28, tripping the same and returning itto normal position. i

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In anelevating machine,the combination with the cylinder, the piston, thepiston rod having a head at its outer end, the inlet and exhaust pipesand the valve, ofthe chain having grapnels at one end, and connected atthe opposite end with the piston rod, the sheave or pulley, the slidabletrip rod having adjust able collars and lugs, the pivoted trip lever andits pins or studs, the four armed lever,

IOO

the lever connected with the stein of said valve and the connectingrods, substantially as described.

2. In an elevating machine,the combination with the cylinder, thepiston, the piston rod having` a head at its outer end, the inlet andexhaust pipes and the valve, of the chain having,` grapnels at one endand connected at the other end With the piston rod, the slidable triprod having collars and lugs, the pivoted trip lever an d its pins orstuds, the four armed lever, the lever connected With the valve, the

connecting,1 rods, the cylinder or sleeve loosely embracing saidchain,the lever pivoted to said cylinder or sleeve, and the chainsconnected I5 with said lever and With the four armed lever,substantially as described.

In testimony that I'claiin the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

F. M. MADDOX, GEO. JUENoKE.

